-For a copy of AB 1648, click here (pdf).

SAN FRANCISCO - The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 8-3 to support Supervisor Ammiano’s resolution to “uphold the public’s right to access misconduct information about public employees” by supporting legislation to overturn the California Supreme Court’s decision that eliminates public access to police records and hearings.

The Supreme Court decision, Copley Press v. Superior Court (2006), shuts down public access to information about police complaints and hearings that have traditionally been open. Since the Copley decision, San Francisco Police Commission hearings of disciplinary cases and records have been closed. Other oversight agencies throughout the state have been similarly affected including those in Los Angeles, San Diego, Berkeley, and Oakland.

“The public has a right to know about misconduct by public officials who are paid for with public tax dollars,” said Mark Schlosberg, Police Practices Policy Director of the ACLU of Northern California. 

In the California Legislature, Assemblyman Mark Leno, introduced a bill, AB 1648 that will overturn Copley Press and help restore police accountability and public trust.  The bill is scheduled to be heard before the Assembly Public Safety Committee on April 17th.

“The SF Board of Supervisors vote is a vote for open government and police accountability. AB 1648 is an important first step in restoring police accountability,” said Maya Harris, executive director of the ACLU-NC.

The  California Newspaper Publishers Association, the Sacramento Bee, the San Francisco Chronicle, Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club, the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, the Asian Law Caucus, the National Black Police Association, La Raza Centro Legal, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Californians Aware, and the Watts Labor Community Action Committee are among the groups that  have endorsed AB 1648.

Senator Gloria Romero introduced a similar bill (SB 1019) in the Senate.